Protective sleeve for electrical components

Abstract

A sleeve structure includes an electrically insulating protective sleeve having clips that retain and capture component pins and regulate a mounting distance of the electrical component from a wiring structure. A method of component wiring assembly is also included.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sleeve structure, comprising:
 a plurality of substantially planar shoulders; 
 a plurality of boots, wherein each boot is located between and adjoined to a pair of substantially planar shoulders; 
 each boot comprises at least a first clip and a second clip, the first clip having an inner surface including a first tapered portion proximate a top of the first clip and a first flat portion proximate a bottom of the first clip, the second clip having an inner surface including a second tapered portion proximate a top of the second clip and a second flat portion proximate a bottom of the second clip, wherein said first clip and said second clip each comprise an electrically non-conductive material configured to contact an electronic pin; 
 a gap in between the two clips, wherein a major plane of the gap is substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar shoulders such that the major plane of the gap extends between adjacent substantially planar shoulders; and 
 a second gap between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion, with the first tapered portion facing the second tapered portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second gap is narrower at lower ends of the two tapered portions, wherein the lower ends of the two tapered portions are substantially flat surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein a length of each the two clips is shorter than a length of the substantially planar shoulders so that the substantially planar shoulders comprise supporting legs of the sleeve structure. 
     
     
       4. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein a top of the gap between the two clips defines an aperture having a width larger than 40 mils. 
     
     
       5. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein the gap distance between the two tapered portions, near the bottom of the two tapered portions, is less than 35 mils. 
     
     
       6. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 2  wherein a length of the substantially flat surface is between 20 mils to 80 mils. 
     
     
       7. The sleeve structure of  claim 1  comprises electrically insulating material or plastic or a polymer. 
     
     
       8. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the two clips comprises a tapered back side with each clip having a narrower cross sectional area at a bottom of the clip than at a top of the clip. 
     
     
       9. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein an alignment of the plurality of boots is not co-planar. 
     
     
       10. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein a divider is located between two adjacent boots, and the divider comprises two protruding walls, with a space between the protruding walls that is greater than the electronic pin width. 
     
     
       11. The sleeve structure as recited in  claim 1  wherein a divider is located between two adjacent boots, and the divider comprises an aperture encased by four walls. 
     
     
       12. The sleeve structure of  claim 1  comprises three boots or (two boots and a divider between the two boots), wherein the divider comprises an aperture encased by four walls. 
     
     
       13. A method of protecting electronic pins, comprising: mating a protective sleeve with pins of an electrical component; catching the pins in the protective sleeve having boots, each having two tapered clips, with each tapered clip having a planar lower portion surrounding and retaining one pin; and insulating adjacent pairs of pins electrically using non-conductive substantially planar barriers between adjacent boots; wherein the boots include a pair of integral boots located between a plurality of shoulder legs; each of the pair of integral boots having a first and second clip, the first clip having an inner surface including a first tapered portion proximate a top of the first clip and a first flat portion proximate a bottom of the first clip, the second clip having a second tapered portion proximate a top of the second clip and a second flat portion proximate a bottom of the second clip, wherein a first gap is defined between the first and second tapered portions and a second gap is defined between the first and second flat portion of the first and second clips, wherein an external pin of said external pins is configured for insertion into said first gap and wherein said first clip and said second clip each comprise an electrically non-conductive material configured to contact said pin. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising spacing a bottom tip of the tapered clips a distance above from a bottom of the substantially planar barriers. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising shielding the pins with the tapered clips; leaving a gap distance between the tapered clips narrow enough to retain a the pins; and maintaining a substantially 90 degree angle between the substantially planar barriers and a horizontal plane between the tapered clips. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 13  further comprising mounting the mated protective sleeve and pins on a component board; and leaving a space between the pins and a surface of the component board to place solder or adhesive material. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein the mating comprises mating a three-pin electrical component with the protective sleeve. 
     
     
       18. A protection device, comprising:
 a power electronic device having a plurality of external pins; and 
 an electrically insulating sleeve having: a plurality of shoulder legs; and 
 a pair of integral boots located between the plurality of shoulder legs; each of the pair of integral boots having a first and second clip, the first clip having an inner surface including a first tapered portion proximate a top of the first clip and a first flat portion proximate a bottom of the first clip, the second clip having a second tapered portion proximate a top of the second clip and a second flat portion proximate a bottom of the second clip, wherein a first gap is defined between the first and second tapered portions and a second gap is defined between the first and second flat portion of the first and second clips, wherein an external pin of said external pins is configured for insertion into said first gap, and wherein said first clip and said second clip each comprise an electrically non-conductive material configured to contact said external pin. 
 
     
     
       19. The protection device as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a divider with protruding walls and a space between the protruding walls.